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-OLIVX-PERCIVAL- 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


,-y 


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flf 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 

ISABEL  ECCLESTONE  MACKAY 


HE   EMBARKED   ONCE   MORE 

DOWN   THE   PATH   THAT   LEADS   TO   THE   BUNS   BACK   DOOR 


THE 

SHINING  SHIP 

And  Other  Verse  for 
Children 


BY 

ISABEL  ECCLESTONE  MACKAY 

Author  of  "Up  the  Hill  and  Over,"  etc. 

ILLUSTRATED   BY 
THElS^CUDLIPP 


NEW  XBJr  YORK 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


Copyright,  1918, 
By  George  H.  Doran  Company 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


fs 


As  a  large  proportion  of  the  verse  here  printed  ap 
peared  at  various  times  in  St.  Nicholas,  the  author  wishes 
to  make  every  acknowledgment  of  the  kindness  which 
has  made  this  collection  possible. 

The  thanks  of  the  author  are  also  due  to  The  Youth's 
Companion,  and  others  for  the  same  courtesy. 


620019 

LlBRAJtf 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  SHINING  SHIP 11 

SPRING  WAKING 12 

THE  WONDERFUL  FISHING  OF  PETERKIN  SPRAY        ...  14 

NAUGHTY  JOHNNIE  FROST 16 

GARDEN  RIVALS 18 

A  PROTEST 20 

THE  WHITE  CAP 22 

FATHER'S  VALENTINE 24 

A  VERY  EXCEPTIONAL  ESKIMO 25 

WHO  TOLD? 27 

A  SPRING-TIME  WISH 29 

LISTEN  TO  THE  RAIN 30 

THE  RIVAL  ARTISTS 33 

SUCH  FUNNY  THINGS 34 

BEDTIME  NOW! 37 

SAILOR,  TELL  ME  OF  THE  SEA 39 

OUR  HILL 41 

THE  WISH 42 

SECRETS 44 

BIG  SISTER'S  VALENTINE 46 

HOP-SCOTCH 47 

THE  RUDE  BOY 48 

THE  DUTCH-CUT 49 

THE  NEW  CLOAK 50 

LITTLE  WONDERS 51 

[Vii] 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  WORM  TURNS 53 

JACOB  UNRECOGNISED 55 

LITTLE  BLUE-EYED  FLOWER 56 

THE  WIND  FAIRY 58 

THE  VALENTINE  REGAINED 60 

SUNSET  CITY 62 

THE  CRY-BABY 64 

THE  BALLAD  OF  THE  FOUR  YOUTHS 66 

MOTHER'S  SONGS 68 

THE  ATTIC  WINDOW 70 

MEHITABLE  ANN 72 

THE  MORNING  SUN 74 

WHILE  GETTING  WELL 76 

THE  TELL-TALE 77 

THE  MERCHANTS 79 

i  DO!    DON'T  YOU? 80 

MISTRESS  SPRING-IN-A-HURRY  81 


[viii] 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

He  embarked  once  more 

Down  the  path  that  leads  to  the  Sun's  back  door  Frontispiece 

PAGE 

I  think  it's  queer  that  boys  should  be 

Sent  off  to  bed  right  after  tea 21 

It's  the  picture  of  a  little  girl 

With  her  hair  cut  straight  across  her  face, 
Plastered  down  with  a  wave  or  curl 24 

When  he  goes  to  ride,  he  starts  his  sleigh 

And  never  stops  for  a  whole  long  day 26 

This  is  the  way  Elizabeth  draws, 

Isn't  it  funny? 32 

One  day  I  digged  a  'normus  hole 34 

And  if  they  said  "Tut,  tut!"  that  way, 

You'd  be  as  wise  and  blind  as  they! 44 

Hop-Scotch 47 

"Clear  the  way — here  comes  Miss  Priml"       ....  48 

"Oh,  what  an  ugly,  squashy  worm!" 54 

Jacob  Unrecognised 55 

Something  away  inside  of  me 

Just  loves  Mehitable  Ann! 73 

A  little  bird  sits  on  my  window-sill 76 

TheTell-Tale  78 


[ix] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


ALL  day  I  see  the  ships  sail  in,  the  sun  upon  their 
spars, 
And  silently  at  night  they  pass  between  me  and  the 

stars. 

Oh,  many,  many  ships  there  be, 
From  Biscay  Bay  and  China  Sea! 
But  never  comes  a  ship  for  me, 
Across  the  flooding  bars. 

All  day  I  watch  the  ships  sail  out,  so  brave  and  gal 
lantly  ; 
And  while  I  sleep  they  sail  away,  impatient  for  the 

sea, 
Strange  ways  are  theirs,  where  strange  winds 

blow, 

Strange  islands  loom  and  strange  tides  flow — 
But  round  and  round  the  world  they  go 
And  never  wait  for  me. 

One  day  a  shining  ship  shall  ride  at  anchor  by  the 

quay; 
From  her  slow-furling  sails  shall  shake  the  scents  of 

Araby; 

She  bears  no  name,  she  cannot  stay; 
But  on  her  decks  I'll  sail  away, 
To  China  Sea  and  Biscay  Bay — 
Oh,  she's  the  ship  for  me! 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SPRING  WAKING 


A    SNOWDROP  lay  in  the  sweet,  dark  ground. 
"Come  out,"  said  the  Sun,  "come  out!" 
But  she  lay  quite  still  and  she  heard  no  sound; 
"Asleep!"  said  the  Sun,  "no  doubt!" 


The  Snowdrop  heard,  for  she  raised  her  head, 
"Look  spry,"  said  the  Sun,  "look  spry!" 

"It's  warm,"  said  the  Snowdrop,  "here  in  bed." 
"O  fie!"  said  the  Sun,  "O  fie!" 

"You  call  too  soon,  Mr.  Sun,  you  do!" 

"No,  no,"  said  the  Sun,  "Oh,  no!" 
"There's  something  above  and  I  can't  see  through." 

"It's  snow,"  said  the  Sun,  "just  snow." 

"But  I  say,  Mr.  Sun,  are  the  Robins  here?" 

"Maybe,"  said  the  Sun,  "maybe"; 
"There  wasn't  a  bird  when  you  called  last  year." 

"Come  out,"  said  the  Sun,  "and  see!" 

The  Snowdrop  sighed,  for  she  liked  her  nap, 

And  there  wasn't  a  bird  in  sight, 
But  she  popped  out  of  bed  in  her  white  night-cap ; 

"That's  right,"  said  the  Sun,  "that's  right!" 
[12] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SPRING  WAKING  (Continued") 

And,  soon  as  that  small  night-cap  was  seen, 

A  Robin  began  to  sing, 
The  air  grew  warm,  and  the  grass  turned  green, 

"  'Tis  Springl"  laughed  the  Sun,  "  'tis  Spring!' 


[13] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WONDERFUL  FISHING  OF  PETERKIN  SPRAY 

A  FISHERMAN  bold  was  Peterkin  Spray, 
And  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  and  he  sailed 

away. 

And  when  he  got  there,  he  embarked  once  more 
Down  the  path  that  leads  to  the  Sun's  back  door. 
"Ho,  Ho,"  said  the  Sun,  "here  is  Fisherman  Spray, 
But  the  cook  doesn't  need  any  salmon  to-day." 

"Too  bad,  Mr.  Sun,"  said  Peterkin  Spray, 
And  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  away, 
But  the  wind  was  so  light  that  'twas  half  past  eight 
When  he  called  his  wares  at  the  Moon-man's  gate. 
"Fresh  fish!"  he  cried,  but  the  Moon-man  said, 
"I  never  eat  fish  when  I'm  going  to  bed." 

"What  a  fussy  old  Moon!"  sighed  Peterkin  Spray, 
And  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  away, 
And  when  he  got  there,  he  exclaimed  "My  Stars ! 
I  had  almost  forgotten  to  call  on  Mars." 
"Fine  fish,"  cried  Mars  and  he  smacked  his  lips, 
"Charge  a  dozen  or  so  to  my  next  eclipse!" 

"O  dear,  O  dear!"  sighed  Peterkin  Spray, 
And  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  away, 

[14] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE   WONDERFUL   FISHING   OF   PETERKIN   SPRAY 

(Continued) 

And  when  he  got  there,  he  declared,  "I  wish 
I  never,  never  had  learned  to  fish. 
For  some  won't  buy  and  others  won't  pay, 
And  I'm  tired,  and  tired  of  sailing  away!" 

"I  know  what  I'll  do!"  said  Peterkin  Spray, 
And  he  turned  his  boat  down  the  Milky  Way. 
He  opened  the  Dipper  (yes,  honest,  he  did!) 
He  popped  in  his  cargo,  and  slapped  down  the  lid. 
"Here's  a  kettle  of  fish!"  laughed  Peterkin  Spray. 
And  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  and  he  sailed  away. 


[15] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


NAUGHTY  JOHNNIE  FROST 

LITTLE  Leaf,"  said  young  Jack  Frost, 
"Pretty  Leaf,"  said  he, 
"Tell  me  why  you  seem  so  shy, 

So  afraid  of  me? 
I  protest  I  like  you  well — 

In  your  gown  of  green 
You're  the  very  sweetest  Leaf 
I  have  ever  seen!" 

"Run  away,"  said  little  Leaf, 

"Prithee,  run  away! 
I  don't  want  to  listen  to 

Anything  you  say. 
Mother-tree  has  often  said : 

'Child,  have  naught  to  do 
With  young  Johnnie  Frost' — I  think 

That,  perhaps,  he's  you!" 

"Nay,  believe  me,  little  Leaf, 

Pretty  Leaf!    Indeed 
To  such  silly,  idle  tales 

You  should  pay  no  heed! 
I  protest  a  leaf  so  fair 

Need  not  bashful  be — 
There's  no  reason  why  you  should 

Feel  afraid  of  me," 
[16] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


NAUGHTY  JOHNNIE  FROST  (Continued) 

"Well,  perhaps,"  said  little  Leaf, 

"I  will  let  you  stay — 
If  you're  really  very  sure 

You  mean  all  you  say? 
Do  you  truly  like  me  best " 

"Yes,  oh  yes!"  he  said, 
"And,  to  prove  it,  pray  accept 

This  new  dress  of  red !" 

Very  proud  was  little  Leaf, 

Whispering  with  a  smile, 
:  'Tis  a  sweetly  pretty  gown, 

'Twill  be  quite  the  style!" 
Then  she  chanced  to  glance  around! 

"Oh!"  and  "Oh!"  she  said— 
Every  leaf  upon  the  tree 

Wore  a  dress  of  red! 


[17] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


GARDEN  RIVALS 

PANSY  in  the  garden-bed 
To  a  Johnnie- jump-up  said: 
"Surely  you  are  not  connected 
With  the  Pansy  family  tree? 
You  are  much  too  small  and  sickly, 
And  your  blossom  fades  too  quickly — 
Yet  I  heard  some  children  saying 
That  they  thought  you  looked  like  me!" 

Johnnie- jump-up  merely  smiled: 
"You  are  tame  and  I  am  wild, 

But  that  there's  a  close  resemblance 

Any  little  child  can  see. 
You  are  in  the  garden  growing, 
I,  outside,  still  there's  no  knowing 

But  that  you  and  I  are  cousins — 

Nearer  relatives,  maybe!" 

Said  the  listening  Hollyhock: 
"How  you  silly  flowers  talk ! 

I'm  amazed  such  haughty  spirit 

In  such  humble  things  to  see! 
If  you  both  were  tall  and  graceful, 
If  you  wore  a  dress  as  tasteful 

As  the  one  I  wear,  'twere  easy 

To  excuse  your  vanity!" 
[18] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


GARDEN  RIVALS  (Continued") 

White  Rose  nodded  to  Rose  Red, 
"Did  you  notice  that?"  she  said. 

"Strange  indeed,  that  homely  flowers, 
Always  boast  how  well  they're  dressed! 
Did  you  hear  the  Wind  say  lately 
' Stiff  things  always  think  they're  stately 
But  for  perfect  grace  and  beauty 
Give  me '  you  can  guess  the  rest!" 

"Doubtless  he  referred  to  me," 
Said  Carnation  Pink;  "you  see 

Some  are  born  to  grace  and  beauty — 

'Tis  admitted  by  the  wise — 
And  Carnation  Pinks  inherit 
Beauty,  with  the  grace  to  wear  it — 

Not  that  I  would  boast  about  it,   . 

Only — well,  just  use  your  eyes!" 

Larkspur  timidly  peeped  out: 

"What  is  all  the  strife  about? 
Every  flower  has  some  beauty — 
Don't  you  think  so?    Why,  then,  fall 

To  debating  with  each  other? 

Some  like  one  and  some  another — 
One,  I  know  (his  taste  is  famous) 
Likes  the  Larkspur  best  of  all!" 


[19] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


A  PROTEST 

I  THINK  it's  queer  that  boys  should  he 
Sent  off  to  bed  right  after  tea 
When  it's  so  jolly  out  of  doors 
And  there  are  lots  and  lots  of  chores 

A  boy  could  do I  don't  see  why 

They  shouldn't  be  allowed  to  try. 

The  day's  so  full  of  things  to  do 
I  never  seem  to  get  quite  through; 
There  are  so  many  plays  to  play 
The  daylight  seems  to  slip  away — 
Almost  before  I've  quite  begun 
My  bedtime  comes  to  spoil  the  fun! 

When  I  am  big  'twill  be  all  right 
For  then  I'll  stay  up  most  all  night — 
But  mother's  big,  and  mother  said 
"I  wish  that  I  could  go  to  bed! 
I  feel  so  tired,  little  son, 
I'm  always  glad  when  day  is  done." 

(Wasn't  that  queer!)     I  said  that  she 
Could  go  to  bed  instead  of  me, 
But  mother  said,  "That  will  not  do — 
Sleep  is  the  thing  for  boys  like  you, 
[20] 


A  PROTEST  (Continued) 


I  think  it's  queer  that  boys  should  be 
Sent  off  to  bed  right  after  tea. 


So  you  can  grow  up  tall  and  strong 
And  never  find  the  day  too  long." 

"And  will  you  take  a  long  rest  then, 
And  never,  never  work  again? 
When  I'm  a  man  will  you  be  free 
To  go  to  bed  right  after  tea?" 
But  mother  only  smiled  and  said 
"Yes,  dear — some  time — now  run  to  bed!' 


[21] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WHITE  CAP 

ONE  day  a  baby  wave  was  born, 
Child  of  the  tide  was  she, 
Safe  circled  by  the  warm  young  morn 
And  cradled  in  the  sea. 

And  oh,  it  was  a  pleasant  thing 
The  bright  new  world  to  know, 

To  wonder  at  the  gull's  wet  wing 
And  why  it  sparkled  so! 

To  smile  back  at  the  sky  who  sent 

A  dress  of  dainty  blue, 
To  thank  the  wind  who  chuckling  lent 

A  neat  white  cap  or  two. 

Then  came  the  kindly  moon  who  gave 

A  chain  of  jewels  bright, 
(For  every  little  baby  wave 

Wears  shining  things  at  night!) 

And  oh,  'twas  just  as  sweet  to  lie 

Beneath  the  dancing  stars, 
To  watch  the  glistening  ships  sail  by 

With  silver  on  their  spars  1 
[22] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WHITE  CAP   (Continued} 

To  chase  the  boats  of  fishermen 
And  spatter  them  with  spray, 

To  lift  them  high,  so  high !    And  then 
To  laugh  and  run  away! 

'Twas  harmless  fun,  but,  whisper  low, 
That  cap  the  sly  wind  lent 

Held  magic  and  it  made  her  grow 
Quite  wild  and  turbulent. 

So  when  the  kind  moon  went  away 
She  took  her  diamonds  too, 

The  angry  sky  grew  cold  and  grey 
And  took  the  dress  of  blue. 

The  naughty  wave  began  to  fear 
And  sought  her  mother's  lap — 

"My  child,  the  cause  is  very  dear, 
Take  off  that  saucy  cap  1" 

And  when  the  cap  was  off,  the  day 
Grew  bright,  the  sky  shone  fair 

And  fast  asleep  the  wavelet  lay 
With  sunbeams  in  her  hair! 


[23] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


FATHER'S  VALENTINE 

got  the  queerest  Valentine  I 
JL    It's  the  picture  of  a  little  girl 
With  her  hair  cut  straight  across  her  face, 
Plastered  down  with  a  wave  or  curl. 

If  you'd  see  her  stockings  you  would  laugh, 
For  they're  made  with  rings  like  barber's  poles, 

And  she  wears  the  oddest  little  frock, 
With  no  neck  or  sleeves  but  only  holes. 

And  I  said,  "Who  is  this  little  girl? 

I  won't  have  her  for  my  Valentine." 
Father  laughed  and  said,  "That's  just  as  well — 

Long  ago  she  promised  to  be  mine. 

"Once  I  sent  that  child  a  sugar  heart, 

Saying,  'If  you  love  me  tell  me  so,' 
And  she  ate  it  all — why,  little  son, 

That  was  mother,  thirty  years  ago!" 


[24] 


IT  S    THE    PICTURE    OP    A    LITTLE    GIRL 

WITH    HER   HAIR   CUT   STRAIGHT   ACROSS    HER   FACE, 

PLASTERED    DOWN   WITH    A   WAVE   OR   CURL. 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


A  VERY  EXCEPTIONAL  ESKIMO 

SHALL  I  tell  you  a  few  of  the  things  I  know 
Of  a  very  exceptional  Eskimo? 
If  you  don't  believe — but  believe  you  must, 
Many  stranger  things  have  been  told  on  trust, 
And  some  of  the  strangest  things  I've  known 
Occur  far  up  in  the  Arctic  Zone. 

In  the  Arctic  Zone  by  the  Great  North  Pole 
Lives  this  Eskimo,  in  a  scooped-out  hole 
In  a  great  snow-bank  that  is  mountain-high — 
If  you  reached  the  top  you  could  touch  the  sky! 
And  his  clothes  he  views  with  a  proper  pride, 
They  are  all  white  fur,  with  the  fur  inside. 

When  he  wishes  his  friends  to  come  to  dine 
He  calls  them  up  on  the  Polar  Line 
And  says,  "Please  come  at  the  hour  of  two 
And  partake  of  a  dish  of  sealskin  stew, 
With  codfish  oil  and  a  water-ice 
And  a  blubber-pudding  that's  very  nice!'* 

When  he  goes  to  ride,  he  starts  his  sleigh 
And  never  stops  for  a  whole  long  day — 
Lickety-whiz-z-z!    Down  a  slope  of  white! 
And  a  reindeer  carries  him  back  at  night, 

[25] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


A  VERY  EXCEPTIONAL  ESKIMO  (Continued) 


When  he  goes  to  ride,  he  starts  his  sleigh 
And  never  stops  for  a  whole  long  day. 


While  the  polar  bears  from  his  path  he  warns 
By  blowing  one  of  the  reindeer's  horns! 

When  he  goes  to  bed  it  is  not  enough 
To  hide  his  nose  in  a  bearskin  muff, 
But  his  ears  he  wraps,  if  it's  very  cold, 
In  a  feather-bed,  and  I  have  been  told 
That  he  toasts  his  head — for  it  really  seems, 
If  he  didn't,  the  cold  might  freeze  his  dreams! 


[26] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


WHO  TOLD? 

OUR  teacher  says  there  aren't  fairies  now, 
Nor  ever  was — except  in  silly  talk. 
She  wouldn't  b'lieve  that  yesterday  I  saw 
A  really  one  down  by  the  river  walk! 

I  did  tho',  and  his  eyes  were  green  as  green, 
He  swung  (he  swang,  I  mean),  upon  a  limb, 

And  every  swing  he  took  he  winked  at  me, 
And  I — well,  I  just  up  and  winked  at  him! 

Said  he,  "There  was  a  boy  who  ran  away 

From  school-recess  this  morning;  are  you  he?" 

He  looked  so  nice  and  jolly  that  I  thought 
He  wanted  to  be  friends  and  said,  "I  be." 

"And  can  you  be  the  lad  I  heard  about 

Who  carved  a  pumpkin-head  and  made  a  ghost, 
To  scare  your  little  sister  into  fits?" 

I  said,  "She  always  was  more  skeered  than  most." 

"And  did  you  tell  your  cousin  Julia  Ann, 

To  make  her  cry,  that  Santa  Glaus  was  dead?" 

You  bet  I  wasn't  goin'  to  own  to  that, 

"Aw  now,  you  go  an'  chase  yourself!"  I  said. 

[27]" 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


WHO  TOLD?  (Continued) 

His  twinkly  eyes  got  all  so  sparkly  green, 
He  grinned  the  widest  grin  I  ever  saw. 

"I  see,"  he  chuckled.     "You're  a  bad,  bad  boy, 
I  think,  Horatius  Jones,  I'll  tell  your  Maw!" 

Now  what  d'ye  think  of  that?   When  I  went  in, 
Maw,  she  just  sent  me  straight  away  to  bed — 

For  playing  truant  and  for  scaring  girls! — 
"A  little  fairy  whispered  it,"  she  said. 


[28] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


A  SPRINGTIME  WISH 

OTO  be  a  robin 
In  the  Spring! 
When  the  fleeting  days  of  April 

Are  a- wing, 

And  the  air  is  sweet  with  knowing 
Where  the  hidden  buds  are  growing, 
And  the  merry  winds  are  going 
Wandering! 

O,  to  be  a  robin 

With  a  nest 
Built  upon  the  budding  branches — 

East  or  West! 

Just  to  swing  and  sway  and  dangle 
Far  from  earth  and  all  its  tangle, 
Joining  in  the  gay  bird- jangle, 

With  a  zest! 

O,  to  be  a  robin 

Just  to  sing! 
Not  to  have  the  pain  of  hating 

Anything — 

Just  to  race  the  foremost  swallow 
Over  hill  and  over  hollow — 
And  the  joy  of  life  to  follow 

Through  the  Spring. 
[29] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


LISTEN  TO  THE  RAIN 

LISTEN  to  the  Rain! 
Hear  the  merry  sounds  it  makes 
As  it  falls  and  slides  and  shakes 
From  the  eaves  into  the  street, 
Where  its  million  tiny  feet 
Hurry,  hurry  past  the  door, 
Followed  by  a  million  more! 

Listen  to  the  Rain! 
How  it  gurgles  with  delight, 
Hurling  from  its  dizzy  height, 
Falling  straight  and  falling  true, 
Faster  now  and  louder  too — 
See!    The  tardy  drops  and  small 
Cannot  keep  the  pace  at  all ! 

Listen  to  the  Rain! 
Ah!    It's  angry  now — I  fear 
'Tis  a  scolding  voice  you  hear! 
How  it  scolds  the  drooping  trees, 
How  it  scolds  the  languid  breeze, 
How  it  scolds  the  birds,  poor  things, 
For  the  dust  upon  their  wings ! 

Listen  to  the  Rain ! 
If  you  listen  hard  you'll  hear 
[30] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


LISTEN  TO  THE  RAIN  (Continued) 

How  the  skies  grow  cool  and  clear, 
How  the  primrose  lifts  her  head, 
How  the  mountain  brooks  are  fed, 
How  the  earth  grows  sweet  again 
With  the  coming  of  the  Rain! 


[31] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


This  is  the  way  Elizabeth  draws. 
Isn't  it  funny  ? 


[82] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  RIVAL  ARTISTS 

THIS  is  the  way  Elizabeth  draws. 
Isn't  it  funny? 
That's  a  girl,  she  says,  and  she  says  that  this 

Is  our  white  bunny! 
Elizabeth's  six  and  goes  to  school, 

She  makes  the  letter 
"A"  all  right,  but  her  "B's"  like  this 

And  her  "C's"  no  better- 
She  makes  a  house  stand  on  its  steps 

Without  a  cellar, 
And  doesn't  attend  to  me  at  all 

When  I  want  to  tell  her 
That  houses  never  stand  on  steps 

,  ( Or  almost  never) , 
She  just  goes  on  and  makes  a  pig, 

The  queerest  ever! 
The  only  thing  that  she  can  draw 

Are  pumpkin  faces, 
And  even  then  the  noses  go 

In  wrongest  places. 
Now  I  can  draw.     But  teacher  says 

I  shouldn't  scold  her, 
Perhaps  she'll  draw  as  well  as  me 

When  she  is  older! 


[33] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


One  day  I  digged  a  'normus  hole. 


SUCH  FUNNY  THINGS 

THEY  teach  such  funny  things  in  school! 
I  never  say  a  word, 
But  when  it's  four  o'clock  I  just 
Can't  b'lieve  the  things  I've  heard. 

They  say  the  earth  is  rownd,  just  like 

A  ball,  and  you  can  go 
For  miles  and  never  find  the  edge 

Though  you  try  ever  so ! 
[34] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SUCH  FUNNY  THINGS   (Continued") 

They  say  that  should  you  dig  right  through, 

The  other  side  you'c1  find, 
And  lots  of  China  boys  and  girls 

With  pig-tails  down  behind. 

(One  day  I  digged  a  'normus  hole 
But,  though  I  tried  and  tried 

And  digged  and  digged,  I  never  came 
Out  on  the  other  side) . 

They  say  the  twinkly  stars  are  not 
Hung  up  by  strings  at  all — 

But  then  you  know  they  have  to  be 
Or  else  they'd  surely  fall! 

They  say  there  isn't  any  sky 

Turned  over  like  a  bowl 
And  that  the  blue's  not  blue  at  all 

But  just  a  big  black  hole. 

And  when  the  shiny  sun  goes  down 

Like  a  great  yellow  ball 
Into  the  sea  at  supper  time, 

It  isn't  wet  at  all! 

(But  this,  I  think,  is  likely  true, 

Because,  beyond  a  doubt, 
If  it  got  very  soaking  wet 

Its  fire  would  go  quite  out.) 
[35] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SUCH  FUNNY  THINGS  (Continued) 

They  say  I  do  not  see  the  moon 
Move  right  across  the  sky — 

But  then,  you  know,  I  do,  as  they 
Can  see  as  well  as  I! 

0  dear!  they  say  such  funny  things, 
I'm  hardly  sure  I'm  me, 

1  hardly  know  the  things  I  know 
Or  see  the  things  I  see! 


[86] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


BEDTIME  NOW! 

LITTLE    leaves   go   to   bed!"     said  the   Wind 
thro'  the  trees. 

"If  you  stay  out  so  long  you  will  certainly  freeze, 
I  come  from  the  North  and  I  know  what  I  know — 
Some  one's  coming  this  way  with  a  capful  of  snowl" 

Loud  murmured  the  leaves,  all  a-flutter  with  dread — 
"O  dear  Mother- tree,  did  you  hear  what  he  said? 
But  the  sun  is  so  bright  and  the  sky  is  so  blue — 
He  was  teasing  us,  mother,  it  couldn't  be  true! 

"Why  'twas  only  last  week  that  we  changed  our  green 

gown 

For  this  beautiful  mixture — red,  yellow  and  brown — 
Go  to  bed  in  these  clothes? — it  just  couldn't  be  done — 
Please  tell  us,  dear  mother,  'twas  but  the  Wind's  fun!" 

The  Tree  shook  her  head  and  'tis  sad  but  'tis  true, 
Though  she  shook  it  so  gently,  a  stray  leaf  or  two 
Grew  giddy  and  fell  and  the  Wind  laughed  "Ho- 

Ho!" 
And  gaily  he  flattened  them  out  in  a  row. 

"Come  on,"  called  the  Wind  and  he  swept  a  low  bow, 
"You'll  have  to  come  soon  so  you'd  better  come  now ; 

[37] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


BEDTIME  NOW!   (Continued) 

Never  mind  your  gay  dress,  what's  a  crease  or  a  tear? 
In  the  scheme  of  creation  it's  not  here  nor  there!" 

They  fell  and  they  fell,  and  they  covered  the  ground 
And  the  Wind  caught  them  up  and  he  danced  them 

around 
And  he  laughed  a  "Good-Night"  as  he  clapped  them 

in  bed — 
But  the  leaves  were  too  sleepy  to  hear  what  he  said ! 


[88] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SAILOR,  TELL  ME  OF  THE  SEA 

SAILOR,  tell  me  of  the  sea, 
All  the  sights  and  sounds  that  be- 
When  the  shore  has  slipped  from  sight 
And  the  moon  shines  clear  at  night 
And  there  is  no  wind  at  all, 
Can  you  hear  the  mermaids  call?" 

"Ay  indeed !     Tis  like  a  bell, 
Sweet  and  far  across  the  swell 
Of  the  long  cool  waves,  and  soon 
You  can  see  them  'neath  the  moon 
Smile  and  beckon — ay,  you  can 
If  you  be  a  Sailor-man!" 

"Wondrous,  Sailor,  is  the  sea! 
Dreadful  are  the  things  that  be! — 
On  a  breathless  day  in  June 
Have  you  seen  the  great  typhoon 
Pounce  with  rending  shriek  and  roar 
On  the  ship  it's  waited  for?" 

"Mate  was  I,  down  China  way, 
When  the  typhoon  seized  her  prey — 
Ay,  indeed! — The  brig  spun  round 
Like  a  top  on  level  ground, 
[89] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SAILOR,  TELL  ME  OF  THE  SEA  (Continued) 

Then  she  lifted  clear  and  free — 
And  plunged  down  into  the  sea!" 

"Sailor,  tell  me,  is  it  true 
There's  a  sea  no  boat  wins  through, 
Where  the  air  is  never  stirred 
By  the  rush  of  winging  bird 
And  the  drifted  wrecks  lie  by 
Rotting  'neath  a  burning  sky?" 

"Ay,  'tis  true !    But  no  man  knows 
Where  that  sluggish  current  flows! 
Only  dead  ships  find  the  place, 
Ships  that  go  and  leave  no  trace — 
Many  drift  on  that  last  tack, 
Never  any  ship  comes  back!" 

"Sailor,  Sailor!     Speak  to  me, 
Gaze  not  so  across  the  sea! 
Bright  it  glitters  in  the  sun 
And  the  day  is  just  begun, 
Far  and  white  the  sea-gulls  fly — 
Why  sits  terror  in  your  eye?" 

Slow  the  Sailor  turned  his  head. 
"On  a  day  like  this,"  he  said, 
"On  a  day  like  this,  went  down 
My  good  ship  the  London  Town — 
Ay,  and  not  less  lost  is  she 
For  the  smiling  of  the  sea!" 
[40] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


OUR  HILL 

r  I  ^EDDY  and  Jock  and  I  play  on  a  hill  all  day. 
A  Its  top  goes  up  to  the  sky 

And  Teddy  and  Jock  and  I 
Are  sometime  going  to  climb  so  high 
We'll  hear  what  the  star-folk  say! 

Just  us  can  play  on  the  hill — nobody  else  would 

dare ! — 

Its  feet  slip  into  a  lake, 
And  some  fine  day  we'll  take 
Our  luncheon  of  apples  and  Johnny-cake 

And  see  what  it's  like  down  there. 

There's  a  cave  in  the  hill  up  there,  so  black  it 
looks  like  blue! 

It  hasn't  ever  an  end — 

But  some  day  we  intend 

To  go  right  in  and  around  the  bend — 
But  it  wouldn't  be  safe  for  you! 


[41] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WISH 

ALEPRECAUN-FAIRY  was  pegging  some 
shoes, 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 

With  long  curly  toes,  like  the  court-fairies  use, 
All  red  like  the  sumach,  in  pairs  made  of  twos — 
"For  fear  they'd  be  lonely,"  said  he! 

"O  Shoemaker  green,  I  have  spied  on  you  thrice! 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 
I  have  called  your  name  once,  I  have  called  your 

name  twice, 
And  now,  Mister  Leprecaun,  pay  me  my  price!" 

"Ah,  sure,  if  ye  wish  it,"  said  he. 

"One  wish  ye  may  have  for  the  sight  of  your  eyes, 

(And  only  one,  mind  ye,"  said  he.) 
"So  take  your  time  now,  that  the  wish  may  be  wise, 
For  a  wish  comin'  true  is  a  bit  of  surprise!" 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 

"And  what  if  I  wish  for  a  big,  golden  ball? 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 
And  what  if  I  wish  for  the  blue  sky  to  fall? 
And  what  if  I  wish  for  the  great  world-and-all?" — 

"Just  be  pleasin'  your  fancy !"  said  he. 

[42] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WISH  (Continued') 

"But,  Leprecaun,  dear,  tell  me  what  would  you  do? 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 
For  how  can  I  know  if  the  sky  is  real  blue? 
Is  the  world-and-all  heavy?    I'll  leave  it  to  you" — 

"  Tis  a  bit  of  a  handful!"  said  he. 

"And  how  if  you  wanted  a  million  of  things? 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 
If  you  longed  for  the  rainbow  and  wished  you  had 

wings, 
And  a  gown  of  pink  velvet  and  toffy  in  strings?" 

"Sure,  I  think  I'd  go  crazy!"  said  he. 

:  'Tis  plain  ye  can't  choose,"  said  the  Leprecaun 

green, 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 
"So,  since  I've  no  time  for  a  shiftless  colleen, 
Sure,  I'll  give  ye  these  shoes  with  a  wish  in  between — 
Ye'll  find  it  there — maybe!"  said  he. 

Ochone,  and  Ochone!     He  was  up  and  away! 

(Tickety,  tackety,  tee!) 
And  red  as  the  sumach  the  fairy  shoes  lay 
With  the  wish  in  between — and  one  fortunate  day, 

"  'Tis  the  one  wish  I  wanted!"  said  she. 


[43] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SECRETS 

HOW  do  you  think  they  make  the  dew? 
The  wise  men  tell,  but  they  don't  tell 

true; 

For  they  are  so  very,  very  wise 
They  can't  see  straight  out  of  both  their  eyes; 
And  a  drop  of  dew  is  a  simple  thing- 
Just  a  pearl  that  slips  from  a  fairy's  wing. 

How  do  you  think  they  make  the  snow? 
The  wise  men  tell,  but  they  don't  know — 
They  are  too  wise  to  understand 
That  every  flake  is  made  by  hand, 
Yet  of  ninety  million  and  seventy-three 
Each  one  is  made  quite  differently. 

How  do  you  think  they  make  the  rain? 
The  wise  men  tell,  but  they  don't  explain 
That  a  rainstorm  isn't  a  storm  at  all, 
But  just  the  fairies  playing  ball — 
Now  listen  hard  and  you'll  surely  hear 
Them  laugh  and  gurgle  and  call  and  cheer! 

And  the  frost — why,  some  wise  folk  insist 
That  frost  is  merely  a  frozen  mist; 
They  are  so  wise  that  they  cannot  trace 
The  wonderful  weaving  of  fairy  lace. 
[44] 


AND   IF  THEY   SAID   <(TUT,  TUT,"    THAT  WAY, 
YOU   BE   AS  WISE   AND   BLIND   AS   THEY. 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SECRETS  (Continued) 

But  look  at  the  windowpane,  my  dear, 
And  you  will  see  it  as  clear  as  clear. 

Now  these  are  secrets — if  you  tell 
Be  sure  you  look  about  you  well 
To  see  that  no  wise  men  are  near, 
For  they  would  say  "Ahem!"  I  fear, 
And  if  they  said  "Tut,  tut  I"  that  way, 
You'd  be  as  wise  and  blind  as  they! 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


BIG  SISTER'S  VALENTINE 

THE  house  seems  wrongside  out  to-day, 
Big  sister  acts  the  queerest  way! 
At  breakfast  father  said,  "My  dear, 
This  tea  is  somewhat  weak,  I  fear." 
And  sister  said,  "I  quite  forgot 
To  put  the  tea  into  the  pot!" 
Then  when  she  heard  the  baby  fret 
She  said,  "Whatever's  wrong,  my  pet?" 
It  took  some  time  for  her  to  think 
She'd  put  no  sugar  in  his  drink. 
She  made  Bob's  lunch  for  him,  but  why 
Did  she  forget  to  put  in  pie? 
Why  did  she  put  Ned's  coat  on  me 
And  laugh  and  say  she  "didn't  see"? 
Yet  all  the  time  she  looked  so  kind 
And  smiled  so  nice  we  didn't  mind. 
I  said  quite  low  to  father — "Say, 
What  makes  big  sister  queer  to-day?" 
He  whispered  back,  "Small  son  of  mine, 
Big  sister's  got  a  Valentine !" 


[46] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


HOP-SCOTCH 

ALL  day  I  play  at  Hop-Scotch 
And  hop  and  hop  and  hop, 
And  when  I  go  to  bed  at  night 

I  dream  I  cannot  stop, 
And  all  the  world  and  everything 

Is  one  big  hop-scotch  square, 
With  just  one  tired  little  girl 
Hopping  and  hopping  there! 


[47] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


"Clear  the  way — here  comes  Mist  Prim!" 

THE  RUDE  BOY 

rjlHERE'S  a  boy  that  goes  to  school, 
M.      Billy  Jenkens  is  his  name, 
And  he's  just  the  rudest  teasel — 
All  the  girls  think  it's  a  shame. 

If  a  girl  has  got  red  hair, 

He  calls  "Fire!"    If  she's  fat 

And  has  freckles  on  her  nose 

He  calls  "Seedcake!"  just  like  that! 

Oh  he  is  a  nawful  boy, 

I  just  never  look  at  him — 
And  to-day  he  called  at  me 

"Clear  the  way — here  comes  Miss  Primf 
[48] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  DUTCH-CUT 

OH!    If  I  could  only  have 
Dutch-cut  like  the  other  girls ! 
Every  time  I  ask  for  it 

Mother  says,  "What!  Spoil  your  curls?' 

Then  she  wonders  why  I  hide 

In  behind  the  parlour  door, 
She  just  simply  won't  believe 

Curls  aren't  stylish  any  more! 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  NEW  CLOAK 

AFTER  school  I  went  to  walk 
Down  a  street  quite  far  away 
And  I  wore  the  new  blue  cloak 
Mother  finished  just  to-day. 

Teacher's  house  is  in  that  street 
And  I  thought  perhaps  if  she 

Just  should  meet  me — or  if  I 

Should  meet  her,  how  nice  'twould  be! 

Then — I  saw  her — and  I  hid 
Round  a  tree  till  she  went  by — 

Oh  dear  me,  it's  quite  too  bad 
Teachers  make  a  girl  so  shy! 


[50] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


LITTLE  WONDERS 

I'D  like  to  know  the  whisp'ry  things 
The  trees  say  to  each  other 
And  what  the  stars  mean  when  they  laugh 
And  wink  at  one  another. 

I'd  like  to  see  inside  the  dark 

That  girls  are  so  afraid  of, 
I'd  like  to  feel  the  velvet  stuff 

The  summer  sky  is  made  of — 

It  looks  so  soft  and  thick  and  blue 
With  not  a  wrinkle  through  it, 

The  fairies  iron  it,  perhaps, 
I  wonder  how  they  do  it? 

I  wonder  if  the  noisy  brook 

Is  cross  or  only  playing — 
The  birdies  chatter  all  day  long, 

I  wonder  what  they're  saying! 

The  cow  that  jumped  above  the  moon — 

Did  it  fall  down  inside  it? 
It  must  be  there  somewhere,  you  know, 
Where  does  the  moon-man  hide  it? 
[51] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


LITTLE  WONDERS  (Continued) 

Does  that  cow  give  the  milk  that  makes 
The  milky- way,  I  wonder, 

And  when  it  bellows  loud,  is  that 
What  makes  the  nimbly  thunder? 

O  dear!    There's  lots  of  things  to  know, 
But  though  big  folks  are  clever 

And  though  I  ask  and  ask  all  day 
They  never  tell  me — never/ 


[52] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WORM  TURNS 

A  NAUGHTY  child  just  pulled  me  out  of  bed. 
"O  what  an  ugly,  squashy  worm!"  he  said, 
And  he  meant  me! — 
'Tis  strange  how  ignorant  a  child  can  be. 

I  "squashy"? — I,  so  gently  born  and  bred, 
That  rose-leaves  make  a  pillow  for  my  head, 
While  in  the  heart 
Of  some  sweet  bud  I  watch  its  petals  part? 

And  "ugly"? — I,  so  slim,  so  full  of  grace 
That  when  my  silky  length  is  coiled  in  place, 
Brown  row  on  row, 
A  finer  sight  no  summer  day  can  show. 

I  wish  that  I  might  take  these  children  rough 
And  show  them  where  I  live!     'T would  be  enough 
To  make  them  stare 

In  wonder  and  amazement  and  despair — • 

\ 

No  child  that  lives  has  such  a  home  as  1 1 
For  roof  it  has  a  bit  of  bluest  sky 
So  that  the  rain 

And  dew  and  sun  peep  in  and  out  again. 

[53] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WORM  TURNS  (Continued) 


"Oh,  what  an  ugly,  squashy  worm!" 

Its  walls  are  hung  with  crimson  and  its  floor 
Is  strewn  with  golden  pollen,  and  its  door, 
All  made  of  green, 
Is  just  the  daintiest  portal  ever  seen! 

My  food  is  delicate.     I  daily  fare 

On  crumpled  petals,  dew-steeped,  very  rare — 

Oh,  happy  I ! — 

Until  some  naughty  little  child  comes  by! 


[54] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


JACOB  UNRECOGNISED 

ONE  day  when  I  was  lyin'  in  the  grass 
Watchin'  the  little  clouds  a-sailin*  by, 
I  saw  a  Jacob's  ladder  all  of  gold, 
It  started  from  a  hole  up  in  the  sky. 

I  was  so  scared  an  angel  might  come  down 
I  wriggled  in  the  grass  and  lay  quite  flat — 

You  see,  I  ain't  as  good  as  I  could  wish, 
An'  angels  don't  jes'  take  to  boys  like  that. 

When  I  got  home  I  told  my  Maw,  because 
I  thought  that  she'd  be  int'rested — but  pshaw! 

She  jes'  gave  me  a  look  an'  said,  "My  son, 
Don't  go  a-tellin'  fibs  to  fool  yer  Maw!" 

Now,  Jacob's  Maw  b'lieved  every  word  he  said, 
An'  told  the  neighbours  an'  made  quite  a  stir, 

And  got  it  put  in  the  Old  Testament — 

But  my  Maw — why,  you  jes'  can't  int'rest  her! 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


LITTLE  BLUE-EYED  FLOWER 

LITTLE  Blue-eyed  Flower 
Grows  amid  the  clover, 
Bees  and  birds  the  long  day  through 

Hum  and  flutter  over. 
"Dearie  me!"  sighs  Blue-eyed  Flower, 

"If  I  only  had  the  power 
Just  to  fly  and  fly  and  fly — 
Who  would  be  as  gay  as  I  ?" 

Little  Blue-eyed  Flower 

Hears  the  water  going 
Singing  through  the  meadow-brook, 

Sees  it  flowing — flowing! 
"Dearie  me!"  sighs  little  Flower, 

"If  I  only  had  the  power 
Just  to  flow  to  meet  the  sea — 

Then  I  would  contented  be.'* 

Little  Blue-eyed  Flower! — 

When  the  sun  is  setting 
Red  behind  the  distant  hills 

You  can  hear  her  fretting. 
"Dearie  me!"  sighs  little  Flower, 

"If  I  only  had  the  power 
To  be  big  and  round  and  bright 

Then  the  world  would  be  all  right.' 
[56] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


LITTLE  BLUE-EYED  FLOWER  (Continued'} 

Little  Blue-eyed  Flower — 

As  the  days  go  by  her 
Sighs  for  something  far  away, 

Something  stronger,  higher, 
"Dearie  me!"  sighs  little  Flower, 

"If  I  only  had  the  power!" 
So  all  day  she  sits  and  cries 

All  the  blue  out  of  her  eyes! 

Little  Blue-eyed  Flower, 

Sighing  in  the  clover, 
He  who  made  you  what  you  are 

Will  not  make  you  over. 
But,  bethink  you,  little  Flower 

Is  it  true  you  have  no  power? 
What  about  your  golden  cup 

Where  a  honey-bee  may  sup? 


[571 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WIND  FAIRY 

THERE'S  a  fairy  lives  in  the  heart  of  the  Wind, 
Like  the  mermaids  live  in  the  sea, 
Her  face  she  hides  but  you  hear  her  sing 
"Ou-ee,  Ou-ee,  Ou-ee!" 

When  the  Autumn  comes  and  the  days  are  grey 

And  the  Wind  rides  wild  and  high, 
She  leaps  to  the  back  of  an  eager  cloud 

And  gallops  across  the  sky. 

Then  down  she  swoops  with  a  shrill  "Ho,  ho," 

To  whistle  and  call  in  the  eaves, 
Or  dance  in  the  dust  of  the  long  white  road 

With  a  swirl  of  bewildered  leaves! 

With  the  soft  West  Wind  she  has  songs  to  sing 

Of  countries  far  and  fair, 
And  she  calls  to  the  birds  with  a  word  so  sweet 

That  they  follow  her  everywhere. 

When  the  stars  peep  out  on  a  summer's  night 

She  strays  o'er  the  garden  grass, 
And  the  blue-bells  ring  and  the  roses  sway 

And  jostle  to  see  her  pass. 

[58] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  WIND  FAIRY  (Continued) 

But  her  voice  is  sad  when  the  rain- wind  blows ; 

Like  a  child  who  is  left  alone 
She  sighs  all  day  to  the  whispering  brook 

And  sobs  in  an  undertone. 

One  day  she  came  to  the  nursery  door, 

And  rattled  the  latch  and  cried! 
And  tossed  a  leaf  at  the  windowpane, 

Till  I  opened  the  window  wide. 

I  felt  her  pass — and  the  curtains  swayed 
And  the  pictures  stirred  on  the  wall 

But  when  I  had  shut  the  window,  quick — 
She  was  not  in  the  room  at  all! 

I  followed  her  out  through  the  garden  gate, 

I  followed  across  the  stream, 
Then  I  followed  her  back — and  in  bed  that  night 

I  followed  her  into  a  dream. 

I  dreamed  of  a  fine  tea-party,  spread 

High  up  on  a  tossing  tree, 
With  a  nice  white  cloud  for  a  table-cloth 

And  the  Wind  Fairy  pouring  tea! 


[59] 


THE  VALENTINE  REGAINED 

WAY  high  up  in  the  attic-room  where  me  and 
Billy  play, 
There's  lots  and  lots  of  lovely  things  that  mother's 

put  away, 

And  if  we're  good  as  good  can  be,  why,  we  can  have 
most  all  we  see. 

To-day  we  found  a  curyus  box,  the  lock  of  it  was  gone, 
And  inside  was  a  picture  card  with  funny  writing  on, 
"O  fairest  Jane,  my  heart  is  thine,  accept  from  me 
this  Valentine." 

Billy,  he  didn't  care  for  it  but  I  thought  it  was  sweet, 
The  picture  was  an  angel-one  with  clouds  wrapped 

round  its  feet. 
From  what  it  said  inside  'twas  plain  the  angel  must 

have  been  called  Jane. 

I  went  straight  down  where  mother  was,  to  let  her 

have  a  look, 

Before  I  pasted  it  away  in  my  new  pasting-book, 
But,  when  my  mother  saw  it,  she  just  took  it  right 

away  from  me. 

She  looked  so  funny  and  her  face  got  such  a  lovely  red, 

[60] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  VALENTINE  REGAINED   (Continued) 

"Why,  it's  my  Valentine  you've  found!"  was  what  my 

mother  said, 
And  then  she  hid  away  her  eyes,  just  like  our  Billy 

when  he  cries. 

Only  a  minute  though  and  then  she  smiled  so  sweet 

at  me, 
"Oh,  what  a  puzzled  face!"  she  said  and  took  me  on 

her  knee — 
"Why,  mother's  name  was  Jane,  you  know,  Oh  long 

and  long  and  long  ago!" 


[61] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SUNSET  CITY 

Q  UNSET     CITY     lies     along     Twilight's 

k./     smooth,  grey  sea, 
And  a  river  wanders  there, 
Flowing  from  no  man  knows  where — 

Swiftly,  silently! 

Glitt'ring  palaces  outline  where  the  river  flows, 
Citadels  without  a  name 
Silhouette  their  towers  in  flame — 

Crimson,  gold  and  rose. 

Quiet  streets  wind  up  and  up  to  a  magic  height, 

And  the  wond'ring  eyes  behold 

Pavements  of  aerial  gold 
Delicate  as  light. 

From  the  stately  battlements  banners  flaunt  and 
fall, 

Lances  gleam  and  pennons  float, 

(Hark!  was  that  a  bugle's  note? 
Or  a  wild  bird's  call?) 

Stately  galleons  anchor  there  in  the  Twilight  sea, 
Tyrian  purple  are  their  sails 
And  their  decks  are  piled  with  bales 

Wonderful  to  see. 

[62] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


SUNSET  CITY  (Continued) 

Why  these  silent  fleets  sail  in  none  has  ever  said — 

Do  the  fairies  come  to  buy 

When  the  stars  are  in  the  sky 
And  we're  safe  in  bed? 

Ah,  if  you  would  answer  that,  you  must  find  the 
way 

To  this  lovely  Sunset  Town 

With  the  river  winding  down 
To  the  close  of  Day! 


[63] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  CRY-BABY 

OME,  O  my!" 
Sighed  the  April  sky, 
"My  tears  go  pitter-patter, 
Yet  why  'tis  so 
I  do  not  know — 
For  there's  not  a  thing  the  matter ! 

"I  am  really  gay, 

In  an  April  way, 

But,  should  I  indulge  in  laughter, 

(Omy,  Ome!) 

There  is  sure  to  be 

A  terrible  shower  after! 

"I  should  love  to  smile 

Just  a  little  while, 

For  the  robins  sound  so  cheery! 

But  my  eyes  of  blue 

Have  scarce  peeped  through 

Before  they  are  dull  and  teary. 

"I  fairly  hate 
To  be  thought  sedate 
And  fickle  and  fond  of  sighing — 
And  the  world  won't  see 
[64] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  CRY-BABY  (Continued) 

(Omy,  Ome!) 

That  it's  not  my  fault  I'm  crying. 

"For  the  fact  appears 

That  without  my  tears 

There'd  not  be  a  green  thing  showing, 

And  an  April  sky 

Has  to  cry  and  cry 

Just  to  start  the  earth  a-growing!" 


[65] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  BALLAD  OF  THE  FOUR  YOUTHS 

A  YOUTH  to  the  hilltop  glanced  and  said, 
"The  summit's  the  place  for  me, 
And  day  by  day  I  shall  force  my  way 

To  the  height  that  I  dimly  see. 
And  nothing  shall  charm  me  to  turn  aside, 

And  nothing  shall  turn  me  back — 
Not  even  a  heed  for  another's  need 
Or  care  for  another's  lack. 

"For  there're  very  few  folk  on  the  hilltop, 

And  millions  of  men  below — '• 
When  a  man  would  reign,  what's  a  little  pain? 

It  isn't  his  pain,  you  know!" 

A  youth  to  the  hilltop  glanced  and  said, 

"There  is  room  at  the  top.     I  see, 
In  this  crowded  race,  'tis  the  only  place 

For  a  sensitive  chap  like  me! 
When  the  people  learn  of  my  just  desert 

They'll  bring  me  the  gilded  car, 
Which  is  all  I  need  to  attain  with  speed 

The  place  where  the  laurels  are. 

"For  there're  very  few  folk  on  the  hilltop, 

And  nothing  at  all  to  do, 
'Twill  be  quite  my  line  just  to  sit  and  shine 

And  praise  the  extensive  view!" 
[66] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  BALLAD  OF  THE  FOUR  YOUTHS  (Continued) 

A  youth  to  the  hilltop  glanced  and  said, 

"I  crave  for  the  purer  air 
And  the  brighter  light  and  the  wider  sight 

And  the  peace  which  is  found  up  there! 
I  shrink  from  the  roar  of  the  market-place 

And  the  folk  that  I  mix  with  here — 
I  am  rare  and  fine  and  my  soul  can't  shine 

In  so  murky  an  atmosphere. 

"For  there're  very  few  folk  on  the  hilltop, 
The  crowd  you  can  leave  by  the  way, 

And  to  worship  art  as  a  thing  apart 
Is  to  be  of  a  finer  clay." 

A  youth  to  the  hilltop  glanced  and  said, 

"I'll  aim  for  the  highest  seat, 
But  how  fine  'twould  be  could  I  take  with  me 

The  dozens  of  friends  I  meet!" 
But  he  never  sat  in  the  seat  he  craved, 

For  he  wasted  time  on  a  song, 
And  he  cleared  the  road  and  he  bore  a  load 

For  a  traveller  not  as  strong. 

For  there're  very  few  folk  on  the  hilltop, 
And  millions  of  men  on  the  plain, 

And  another's  need  interferes  with  speed, 
With  nothing  but  love  to  gain. 


[67] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


MOTHER'S  SONGS 

OUR  mother  sings  quite  different  songs 
From  those  we  learn  at  school 
And  we  all  think  that  mother's  songs 
Are  nicer  as  a  rule — 

There's  one  quite  lovely  one  that  tells 

About  "Sweet  Ella  Rhree," 
And  one  of  "Darling  Nellie  Gray," 

And  one  of  "Rosa  Lee." 

And  one  about  a  "Minstrel  Boy," 

Who  to  the  war  has  gone, 
And  all  about  his  father's  sword 

That  he  has  girded  on. 

There's  one  about  "Toll,  Toll  the  Bell," 
(For  dark  eyed  laughing  Nell), 

And  one  called  "Swinging  in  the  Lane," 
I  like  it  specially  well. 

Another  one  goes  very  high 

About  an  "Evening  Star," 
And  "Blue  Alsatian  Mountains,"  too, 

(I  wonder  where  they  are!) 
[68]  ' 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


MOTHER'S  SONGS  (Continued") 

In  fact  the  songs  we  sing  at  school 
Are  just  plain  everyday, 

But  all  the  songs  that  mother  sings 
Seem  far  and  far  away! 


[69] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  ATTIC  WINDOW 

OF  all  the  windows  in  our  house, 
I  like  the  attic  window  best; 
Because  it's  high  and  small  and  round, 

And  oh,  so  different  from  the  rest! 
He  sees  my  books  upon  the  shelf, 
For  every  single  way  you  look 
Is  like  a  fairy  picture-book! 

Such  lovely  things  there  are  outside! 

Red  chimney-stacks,  and  near,  blue  sky, 
And  fat  cats  walking  on  the  roofs, 

And  baby  cloudlets  skipping  by; 
And  pigeons  cooing  on  the  sill, 
So  I  can  stroke  them,  if  I  will! 

The  smoke  plumes  from  the  chimney-stacks 

Are  banners  waving  to  and  fro, 
While  gallant  knights,  with  prancing  steeds, 

Through  the  long  roof -lanes  come  and  go. 
The  clouds  at  sunset  often  hold 
Great  palaces  of  shining  gold. 

The  wind  comes  rushing  'round  the  eaves, 
Shakes  the  loose  catch,  and  cries,  "How  do?" 

Then  whirls  away  to  chase  the  birds 
And  tumble  down  a  nest  or  two; 
[70] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  ATTIC  WINDOW  (Continued) 

But  though  he's  rough  as  he  can  be, 
He  always  has  a  laugh  for  me. 

The  sun  steps  in  and  cries,  "Hello! 

Here's  just  the  place  I'm  looking  for!' 
He  sees  my  books  upon  the  shelf, 

He  sees  my  toys  upon  the  floor — 
And  then  he  sees  me  sitting  there, 
And  runs  warm  fingers  through  my  hair. 

Just  think !  if  some  day  I  should  be 
A  great  white  bird  with  beating  wing, 

And  from  my  window  fly  away 
Over  the  edge  of  everything, 

Oh,  wouldn't  it  be  fine  to  know 

Where  all  the  summer  daytimes  go ! 


[71] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


MEHITABLE  ANN 

I  LOVE  Mehitable  Ann! 
Last  night  my  sister  said: 
"Mehitable  Ann  is  far  from  new; 
I'd  put  her  away  if  I  were  you — 
Love  Princess  Pry  instead  1" 

But  I  love  Mehitable  Ann! 

And  I  can't  love  Pry  instead. 
If  Mehitable's  cheeks  are  pale  and  white ; 
They  lost  their  red  that  awful  night 

The  puppy  chewed  her  head. 

And  I  love  Mehitable  Ann — 

She  can't  help  being  thin, 
And  there  isn't  a  single  reason  why 
She  can't  be  as  plump  as  Princess  Pry 

If  I  put  more  sawdust  in. 

The  Princess  Pry  is  nice ; 

And  so  is  teeny  Nan — 
She's  in-de-struct-i-ble,  too,  you  see — 
But  something  away  inside  of  me 

Just  loves  Mehitable  Ann! 


[72] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


Something  away  inside  of  me 
Just  loves  Mehitable  Ann ! 


[T3] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  MORNING  SUN 

I    LIKE  the  sun  of  afternoon 
So  golden  and  so  mellow; 
I  like  the  sun  who  goes  to  bed 

Wrapped  up  in  red  and  yellow; 
But  I  don't  like  the  morning  sun, 
I  never  get  my  dream-thinks  done — 
He's  such  a  saucy  fellow! 

When  I  am  just,  say,  half  awake, 
He's  at  my  window  peeping, 

And,  though  I  shut  my  eyes  hard-tight, 
I  feel  him  coming,  creeping 

Across  the  carpet  to  my  bed, 

No  matter  how  I  turn  my  head, 
It  means  "good-bye"  to  sleeping! 

He  dances  on  my  eyes,  and  shouts 
"Hi,  there !  get  up  this  minute ! 

There's  something  doing  out  of  doors ; 
Look  sharp !     You  won't  be  in  it ! 

I  do  so  hate  to  hear  you  snore. 

The  birds  are  up  this  hour  or  more — 
Hark!    Don't  you  hear  that  linnet?" 

Now  that  might  be  all  right,  you  know, 
If  one  were  really  lazy; 
[74] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  MORNING  SUN   (Continued) 

But  when  one  only  likes  to  lie 

With  thoughts  all  dreamy-hazy 
And  misty-queer,  it  seems  a  sin 
To  have  that  Mr.  Sun  dance  in 
To  drive  a  person  crazy! 


[75] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


WHILE  GETTING  WELL 

A  LITTLE  bird  sits  on  my  -window-sill 
And  winks  his  eye  at  me  and  says,  "Hello! 
Sick  are  you?    Why,  whatever 's  wrong? 
I'm  never  sick,  you  know!" 
i 

And,  just  at  breakfast-time,  in  comes  the  Sun 
To  make  queer  wiggly  patterns  on  the  wall 
And  laugh  and  say,  "Oh,  lazy-bones,  get  up ! 
You  are  not  sick  at  all!" 

And  when  I  shut  my  eyes  I  hear  the  brook 
Calling  and  calling  as  it  hurries  by — 

I  can't  lie  still!    I'm  hot  and  mis' r able — 
I'm  'fraid  I've  got  to  cry! 

The  leaves  just  whisper,  whisper  all  the  time! 

The  little  clouds  all  hurry  by  so  quick! — 
And  nothing  seems  to  care  a  speck  about 

A  little  child  that's  sick! 

Oh!    Here's  the  Wind  I    How  cool  his  fingers  are! 

He  steals  across  the  bed  and  feels  my  hands 
And  my  hot  head,  and  doesn't  say  a  word — 

I  think  he  understands  I 


[76] 


A    LITTLE   BIRD   SITS   ON   MY   WINDOW-SILL 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  TELL-TALE 

WE  used  to  like  the  little  birds, 
We  thought  them  good  and  kind ; 
We  never  took  a  single  egg 

('Less  we  left  lots  behind), 
And  every  morning  me  and  Bill 
Put  crumbs  upon  the  window-sill ! 

There  was  a  Robin  used  to  hop 

Right  close  beside  our  door, 
He'd  cock  his  saucy  head  and  say: 

"Please,  boy,  I  want  some  more," 
And  I  would  say:    "Here's  more  for  you 
And  some  for  Mrs.  Robin,  too." 

But  one  day  Bill  and  me  went  down 

To  paddle  in  the  stream 
And  fell  splash  in!     We'd  sense  enough 

To  know  we  mustn't  scream. 
And  when  we'd  dried  our  clothes  quite  well 
You  couldn't  hardly,  poss'bly  tell! 

But  when  we  both  got  home  that  night 

Our  mother  knew  it  all. 
She  knew  how  we'd  been  soaJdn'  wet, 

And  how  we  came  to  fall — 
[77] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  TELL-TALE   (Continued) 

And  when  she  tucked  us  up  in  bed, 
"A  little  birdie  told!"  she  said. 

Bill  thinks  it  was  the  Robin,  and 

He  feels  just  mighty  sore; 
He  says:     "That  bird  can  get  his  crumbs 

At  some  one  else's  door!'* 
I — just  can't  hardly  b'lieve  that  he 
Would  go  and  tell  on  Bill  and  me! 


[78] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


THE  MERCHANTS 

I    AM  the  Frost, 
I'll  show  you  diamonds,  laces  and  tapes 
tries 

Of  all  variety  at  lowest  cost; 
Weavings  of  chaste  design 
Perfect  in  every  line ; 
Connoisseurs  surely  will  buy  of  the  Frost. 

I  am  the  Dew. 

Notice  my  elegant  bracelets  and  necklaces, 

All  of  rare  quality;  pearls  not  a  few; 

Emerald  and  amethyst; 

Opal  all  rainbow  kissed; 

Ladies  rise  early  to  buy  of  the  Dew. 

I  am  the  Snow. 

Let  me  display  for  you  carpets  most  exquisite. 

Choicest  of  bordering  also  I  show, 

Heavy  and  soft  and  white, 

Spread  in  a  single  night; 

Folk  who  have  wisdom  will  buy  of  the  Snow. 

I  am  the  Rain. 

Something  I'll  show  you  priceless  and  wonderful, 
Making  these  offers  seem  tawdry  and  vain! 
'Tis  but  a  cloak  of  grey — 
Wrapping  the  world  away — 
Happy  the  few  who  will  buy  of  the  Rain. 
[79] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


I  DO!     DON'T  YOU? 

SUMMER,"  said  the  humming  Bee, 
"Summer  is  the  time  for  me! 
Richest  fields  of  luscious  clover, 
Honey-cups  all  brimming  over, 
Not  a  cloud  the  long  day  through! 
I  like  Summer  best — don't  you?" 

Said  the  dainty  Primrose  sweet: 

"Summer  is  the  time  of  heat. 

In  the  Spring  when  birds  are  calling 
And  the  crystal  rain  is  falling 

All  the  world  is  cool  and  new  I 

I  like  Springtime  best — don't  you?" 

Said  the  Apple :    "Not  at  all, 

There's  no  season  like  the  Fall ! 

Golden  skies  thro'  soft  mist  glowing 
Where  the  golden-rod  is  growing, 

Reaping  done  and  harvest  through — 

I  like  Autumn  best — don't  you?" 

Said  the  Holly:  "It  is  clear 

Of  all  seasons  of  the  year 

Winter  is  the  best  and  dearest, 
Winds  are  stillest,  skies  are  clearest — 

Snowballs,  sleighrides,  Christmas — whew! 

I  like  Winter  best — don't  you?33 
[80] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


MISTRESS  SPRING-IN-A-HURRY 

DEARIE  O  Me !    I  am  quite  in  a  flutter, 
I've  forgotten  to  churn  the  new  butter-cup's 

butter, 

I've  forgotten  to  set  all  the  lily-bells  ringing, 
I've  forgotten  to  tune  up  the  robins  for  singing, 
Dearie  O  me,  and  Dearie  O  my! 
Was  ever  a  Springtime  so  flustered  as  I? 

Come,  Mr.  Sun,  shine  a  little  bit  hotter, 
Don't  hide  your  face,  please,  and  stop  drinking  water, 
Mr.  Wind,  get  out  your  big  broom  for  sweeping, 
Shame,  Madam  Rain !  this  is  no  time  for  weeping, 
Come  now,  look  pleasant,  the  swift  hours  fly, 
Shake  out  your  cloudlets  and  hang  them  to  dry ! 

Young  Johnnie  Frost,  you  run  home  and  remember 
You're  not  wanted  here  till  sometime  next  November, 
Ha,  now  we  have  it ! — a  little  more  green, 
Brighten  that  yellow,  slip  pink  in  between, 
Don't  talk  to  me  about  colours  that  blend, 
Slap  them  all  on,  'tis  the  same  in  the  end. 

Send  up  the  Mayflowers,  sweet  smelling  piles  of  them, 
Catkins  and  marsh -mallows,  I  can  use  miles  of  them, 
Shake  all  those  lazy  trees,  tickle  their  toes — 
Don't  plant  hypaticas  stiffly  in  rows, 

[81] 


THE  SHINING  SHIP 


MISTRESS  SPRING-IN-A-HURRY   (Continued) 

Jumble  them  up  a  bit,  crimson  and  blue, 
Wind-flowers,  violets,  trilliums  too! 

That's  the  idea!  and  now  for  the  gardens — 
Poke  up  the  hyacinths  ere  the  soil  hardens, 
Mass  purple  lilacs  down  there  by  the  walk, 
Line  up  the  daffodils  here — and  don't  talk — 
Rainbow-hued  crocuses,  narcissus  white, 
Soak  all  in  perfume  and  leave  over  night. 

Here  come  the  birds !     What  a  stirring  and  questing, 
Fat  robins  chirping  and  bob-o-links  nesting, 
Gay  sparrows  chattering,  meadow-larks  racing — 
Swift  as  the  shade  of  the  clouds  they  are  chasing — 

Green  on  the  hillside  and  gold  in  the  sky ! 

Was  ever  a  Springtime  so  sprightly  as  I  ? 


[82] 


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